Using spatial information with device interaction

Abstract

The amount of resources needed for an electronic device to track and/or interact with a user is reduced by utilizing a predicted relative position of that user. In some embodiments, a full 360° scan is performed using at least one image capture element to locate a primary direction to a user of the device. Once this direction is determined, a smaller range (e.g., 45°) centered around that direction can be used to capture, analyze, or provide information for the user. As the user moves, the determined direction is updated and the range adjusted accordingly. If the user moves outside the range, the device can increase the size of the range until the user is located, and the range can again be decreased around the determined direction. Such approaches limit the amount of image or audio information that must be captured and/or analyzed to track the relative position of a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 capturing first image data at a first time;   determining that an object is represented in the first image data;   determining a first relative position of the object, using the first image data;   capturing second image data at a second time;   determining that the object is represented in the second image data;   determining a second relative position of the object, using the second image data; and   tracking the object based at least on the first relative position and the second relative position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recognizing the object as a person, using facial recognition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a particular feature of the object in the first image data; and   tracking the object based at least on identifying the particular feature of the object in the second image data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a second object is represented in the first image data;   determining that the second object is represented in the second image data; and   tracking the second object.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a third time for image capture based on the first relative position and the second relative position; and   capturing third image data at the third time.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising activating a particular microphone, from a plurality of microphones, based at least on tracking the first relative position and the second relative position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a user input to start image capture; and   capturing the first image data.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a user input to stop image capture; and   stopping image capture.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting motion of an electronic device; and   capturing the first image data based at least on the detected motion.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recognizing the object as a particular person, using facial recognition; and   tracking the person based at least on the recognizing.   
     
     
         11 . An electronic device, comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one camera; and   a memory device including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the electronic device to:   capture first image data at a first time;   determine that an object is represented in the first image data;   determine a first relative position of the object, using the first image data;   capture second image data at a second time;   determine that the object is represented in the second image data;   determine a second relative position of the object, using the second image data; and   track the object based at least on the first relative position and the second relative position.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the at least one processor to recognize the object as a person, using facial recognition. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the at least one processor to:
 identify a particular feature of the object in the first image data; and   track the object based at least on identifying the particular feature of the object in the second image data.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the at least one processor to:
 determine that a second object is represented in the first image data;   determine that the second object is represented in the second image data; and   track the second object.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the at least one processor to:
 determine a third time for image capture based on the first relative position and the second relative position; and   capture third image data at the third time.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the at least one processor to activate a particular microphone, from a plurality of microphones, based at least on tracking the first relative position and the second relative position. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the at least one processor to:
 receive a user input to start image capture; and   capture the first image data.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the at least one processor to:
 receive a user input to stop image capture; and   stop image capture.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the at least one processor to:
 detect motion of an electronic device; and   capture the first image data based at least on the detected motion.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the at least one processor to:
 recognize the object as a particular person, using facial recognition; and   track the person based at least on the recognizing.